How to Pronounce Hyperhidrosis
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Hyperhidrosis Pronunciation
hy-per-hy-DROH-sis
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
hy
per
hy
DROH
stress here
sis
5 syllables
What is Hyperhidrosis?
A condition of excessive, uncontrollable sweating beyond what is needed to regulate body temperature, most commonly affecting the palms, feet, underarms, and face. It can cause significant social and emotional distress.
Questions About Hyperhidrosis
How do you pronounce hyperhidrosis?
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Hyperhidrosis is pronounced hy-per-hy-DROH-sis. The stress (loudest part) falls on the third syllable, "DROH." Think of it like saying "high-PER-high-DROH-sis" where you emphasize that middle "DROH" sound.
Can you break hyperhidrosis into syllables?
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Yes! Hyperhidrosis breaks into five syllables: hy-per-hi-dro-sis. When you say it out loud, each part flows together smoothly, but separating them helps you see the word's structure and how it's built.
What's the most common mistake people make when saying hyperhidrosis?
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Many people stress the wrong syllable and say "hy-per-hi-DROH-sis" with equal emphasis, or they accidentally say "hy-PER-hi-DROH-sis." Remember: the stress belongs on the third syllable, the second "hi," so it's hy-per-hy-DROH-sis.
What do the word parts in hyperhidrosis mean?
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Hyperhidrosis comes from Greek roots: "hyper-" means "over" or "excessive," and "hidrosis" comes from "hidros," which means "sweat." So the word literally means "excessive sweating" or "too much sweat."
Are there related words that use the same Greek roots?
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Yes! The word "anhidrosis" uses the same "hidrosis" root but with "an-" meaning "without," so it refers to the opposite condition—little or no sweating. Both words share that Greek root for sweat.
What's a simple way to explain hyperhidrosis in plain English?
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Hyperhidrosis is just a fancy medical way of saying "excessive sweating" or "sweating too much." It's the condition where someone sweats much more than their body normally needs to cool down.
Is there a shorter way to say or write hyperhidrosis?
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Sometimes doctors or medical writers abbreviate it as HH, but this abbreviation isn't as commonly used as abbreviations for other conditions. Most of the time, people just say or write out the full word "hyperhidrosis."
How would you use hyperhidrosis correctly in a sentence?
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You might hear something like: "My grandmother was diagnosed with hyperhidrosis, which explains why her hands are always wet." The word describes the condition itself, not any treatment or outcome.